Pastor František's Page
January 8, 2026
Dear beloved community,
My heart is heavy today, and I wonder if yours is as well. The news out of Minneapolis regarding the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good—a mother, a poet, and a child of God—has left many of us shaken. Regardless of how we analyze the headlines or the politics, one tragedy remains undeniable: the light of a bearer of God's image has been extinguished.
In moments like this, when confusion and violence seem to dominate the public discourse, we often feel small and powerless. It led me to reach for the works of the American mystic Thomas Merton to find our footing. He offers us a necessary reminder about the true audience of Scripture:
"We must never overlook the fact that the message of the Bible is above all a message preached to the poor, the burdened, the oppressed, the underprivileged."
When we witness tragedies like this, we are witnessing the very "burden" Merton speaks of. Our faith does not ask us to look away from these dark realities. Instead, it invites us to listen to those who are burdened and to see human dignity where the world sees only conflict. Let us pray for the family of Renee Nicole Good, and let us ask God for the courage to be people of hope and dignity in a fractured world.
Let us pray:
God of all compassion,
We lift up the grieving family, friends, and neighbors of Renee Nicole Good, asking that Your peace, which passes all understanding, would guard their hearts in this time of sudden loss.
In a world often ruled by power and fear, give us the grace to stand with the burdened and the broken, just as Your Word commands. Open our eyes to see Your image in every face, and make us instruments of Your healing light in the midst of the darkness.
Amen.
The Rev. František Janák
Dear beloved community,
My heart is heavy today, and I wonder if yours is as well. The news out of Minneapolis regarding the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good—a mother, a poet, and a child of God—has left many of us shaken. Regardless of how we analyze the headlines or the politics, one tragedy remains undeniable: the light of a bearer of God's image has been extinguished.
In moments like this, when confusion and violence seem to dominate the public discourse, we often feel small and powerless. It led me to reach for the works of the American mystic Thomas Merton to find our footing. He offers us a necessary reminder about the true audience of Scripture:
"We must never overlook the fact that the message of the Bible is above all a message preached to the poor, the burdened, the oppressed, the underprivileged."
When we witness tragedies like this, we are witnessing the very "burden" Merton speaks of. Our faith does not ask us to look away from these dark realities. Instead, it invites us to listen to those who are burdened and to see human dignity where the world sees only conflict. Let us pray for the family of Renee Nicole Good, and let us ask God for the courage to be people of hope and dignity in a fractured world.
Let us pray:
God of all compassion,
We lift up the grieving family, friends, and neighbors of Renee Nicole Good, asking that Your peace, which passes all understanding, would guard their hearts in this time of sudden loss.
In a world often ruled by power and fear, give us the grace to stand with the burdened and the broken, just as Your Word commands. Open our eyes to see Your image in every face, and make us instruments of Your healing light in the midst of the darkness.
Amen.
The Rev. František Janák
Greetings!
The Rev. František Janák is the pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church since April 2025, a Kaleidoscope Institute accredited facilitator, freelance artist and a PhD student in Practical Theology at Charles University in Prague (ResearchGate profile).
If you wish to contact me, I can be reached via email at pastor@clconcord.org
Tap or click here to schedule a meeting with me. If you prefer, you can also call the church office on 704-782-6923 during office hours to schedule a meeting
You can follow me on Bluesky* @rev-frantisek-j.bsky.social where I post ministry-related content
* Bluesky is a service similar to X, formerly known as Twitter
Pastor František’s usual weekly schedule:
- Mon-Thu: mostly present during general office hours, advance request for a meeting recommended
- Friday: home office, meetings by request only
· Saturday: emergencies only
You can request a meeting by email: pastor@clconcord.org
See the weekly enews for more information
My sermons are listed below for your reflection and consideration after worship. Please click or tap on the sermon of your choice to read it.
The Rev. František Janák is the pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church since April 2025, a Kaleidoscope Institute accredited facilitator, freelance artist and a PhD student in Practical Theology at Charles University in Prague (ResearchGate profile).
If you wish to contact me, I can be reached via email at pastor@clconcord.org
Tap or click here to schedule a meeting with me. If you prefer, you can also call the church office on 704-782-6923 during office hours to schedule a meeting
You can follow me on Bluesky* @rev-frantisek-j.bsky.social where I post ministry-related content
* Bluesky is a service similar to X, formerly known as Twitter
Pastor František’s usual weekly schedule:
- Mon-Thu: mostly present during general office hours, advance request for a meeting recommended
- Friday: home office, meetings by request only
· Saturday: emergencies only
You can request a meeting by email: pastor@clconcord.org
See the weekly enews for more information
My sermons are listed below for your reflection and consideration after worship. Please click or tap on the sermon of your choice to read it.